30.01.2004 SCUDERIA FERRARI OF WASHINGTON'S MASERATI GT LEADS THE ITALIAN RUNNERS AFTER FIRST QUALIFYING AT DAYTONA

The teams competing at this year's Rolex sponsored Daytona 24 Hours hit the track yesterday morning for the first day's qualifying, and at the end of a long and fraught day, both the Scuderia Ferrari of Washington Maserati GT Light and the Mastercar Ferrari 360 Modena, had locked down grid positions for Saturday's race.

Thursday sees the top thirty positions on the grid decided with a series of practice sessions building up to qualifying proper, the sessions split between the the Cup class, the GT's and lastly the front running Daytona Prototypes. A 1:45.783 lap by Scott Pruett was enough to seal overall pole position for the CGR run Lexus Riley.

After GT qualifying the two Flying Lizard-run Porsche GTS RS cars had edged out the Prototype Technology Group BMW M3 to claim the class front row. Further back the first Maserati GT Light, which is making its race debut in the hands of last year's Rolex GT Champions Scuderia Ferrari of Washington, lined up 10th in GT and 26th overall after posting a 01:57.231. The brand new racer, being piloted by Fabrizio De Simone, Stephen Earle, Emil Assentato and Nick Longhi, had bounced back in the second two practice sessions after early problems had seen the car lose most of the opening free period. The team were delighted with progress made and very satisfied with their grid slot as the car faces up to a tough 24 hour baptism.

Lining up right behind them was the fastest of the two Euro Target sponsored Mastercar Ferrari 360GT entries. Luca Drudi, Matteo Meneghello, Ferdinando Monfardini, Joe Colasacco and Ross Fonferko, posting a 01:57.385 to claim position of fastest Ferrari runner. The second Mastercar 360GT, which had gradually gained speed during the morning's free practice sessions, ended up just outside the top thirty.

Also failing to make the first cut were several highly fancied runners. The Red Bull backed BE Racing Ferrari 360 Modena of Klaus Englehorn, Andrea Montermini, Dieter Quester and Phillip Peter had been quick out of the box, a 1:55.287 lap in the opening practice session was good enough for 18th overall and 4th in GT. Meanwhile, the all Daytona rookie line-up in the sole JMB Racing USA Ferrari 360 had gone one place better in the same session with a time four tenths of a second quicker.

Lastly, the Ralf Kelleners led Risi Competizione Maserati GT Light, posted competitive laps throughout practice, including a 1:57.562 in the second free session which was good enough for 7th in GT. The team, which also included FIA GT Champion Matteo Bobbi, were glad to get plenty of laps around the legendary circuit under their belt and onlookers have been already been impressed by the immediate pace of the two Maseratis taking part in the race.